John of the Mountains

I had never heard of the Water-Ouzel bird before, so I had no idea of what to expect the bird to be like and what the bird would look like. I didn't want to look the bird's picture up online, as to give Muir the benefit of describing it, before I already had any preconceived notions. I think Muir gave an accurate enough description to give me a clear idea of what the birds look like, sounds like, and their survival skills compared to other birds. From both of Muir's essays, I learned about different types of birds and trees, how they survive and how they grow, from his many comparisons to others. I think I pretty much knew what a windstorm was like, but I had never been in the forest during one, just in my house or walking around town. I have been through some strong windstorms at night in East Layton, when the wind has blown back down the mountain. While I was indoors during the storm, the wind tore siding off the house, breaking trees which landed on my awning of my deck, destroying fences, and throwing my trampoline at the house. I wouldn't have thought to go outside at the time, so I believe Muir was pretty brave. I have been outdoors during some winter windstorms during the day as of lately, with leaves smacking into me, my umbrella ripping, and freezing wind chills. I knew the wind blows the trees and has a melody, but I wouldn't have guess to study each tree species to see if there was any differences in how the trees react to the wind. I believe Muir is trying to tell us to use all our senses when we are in nature, to have a complete experience and to tell us not to take the nature around us for granted, as there are wonders we still have to find in this world.



"A Wind-Storm in the Forests" describes John Muir's experiences with walking through a forest during a windstorm. He calls the wind "universal," touching everything and anything, making sure, "no one is forgotten." He describes the Juniper and Dwarf pines trees as the only two "that are never blown down," insinuating they have the strongest wind resistance. He recalls exploring Mount Shasta, where he saw "thousands of pines" knocked down and was in awe of the wind's power. He calls the trees' movement "exciting," as if he expects to see a powerful musician's concert. The storm he focuses most of essay on, is one he experienced in December 1874 in the "valleys of the Yuba River." Instead of ducking inside for cover and watching out the window, he fully embraced the storm first hand, heading into the woods "to enjoy it." He describes the "stream of summery fragrance" of the wind and trees, the touch of the wind, his sight and the light of reflection, and the melody he hears. Muir says, "Nature has always something rare to show us," believing it is more "dangerous" to be indoors during a storm instead of outside. He believes everything in nature has a language, and during a storm we hear them trying to communicate to the fullest. "The Water-Ouzel" is his study of the songbird and his survival skills. The birds are not the strongest physically, but have street smarts in order to survive. He calls the birds, "joyous and lovable," indicating they are his favorite among the birds he has studied. He compares them to Robins, Sparrows, Woodpeckers, and the Gray Eagle. He describes The Water-Ouzel's song as "sweet and tender," singing "in chorus with the streams." Muir tells us the Ouzel eats "water insects," their favorite being the "larvae of mosquitos." Although is called a "Water" Ouzel, they hardly swim "more than a few yards" and do not have web feet, preferring to fly.



This introduction to John Muir's two essays tells us he hated editing his stories, believing it is "slaughtering gloriousness." As a typical writer, he probably thought every word he wrote and every stream of consciousness was a masterpiece, just waiting to be appreciated. Having written a few things over the years, it is always disheartening to sit and change what we have worked on. I wondered what exactly he received as criticism from his publishers. The narrator mentions he is now getting the "critical esteem" and "admiration" he deserves. We are told his works not only describe a knowledge of sciences such as glaciology and geology, but a knowledge of describing things artistically as well, making him seem like an expert at pretty much everything in his field. He probably studied how things worked and how things formed, for a better understanding of what he was seeing, which helped him describe their physicality in his writings clearer. Muir explored "wild places from Alaska to South America," but Yosemite Valley was "his classic landmark," making me wonder if it was just because he spent so much time there, that he was able to study the Sierra to the fullest of his capabilities and favored it. I'm sure every time he went climbing, he looked for new experiences, paths, and opportunities, leaving no stone or tree unstudied. He certainly had enough experience, from observing nature and understanding of why nature needs to be protected from commercialism, to form the Sierra Club. Like every nature lover, Muir was disheartened to see "commercial interests" appear and taint his favorite place, with their construction and settlements threatening the beautiful lands and creatures he enjoyed so much. The narrator compared to him to contemporary Edward Abbey, who I am unfamiliar with, but it seems like a huge compliment to Abbey.



In "A Wind-Storm in the Forests," Muir writes, "The mountain winds are measure and bestowed with love on the forests to develop their strength and beauty." I believe Muir is referring to the wind being a catalyst, which the forest must rise above and fight to become greater. He calls the wind "universal", touching everything and anything, making sure, "no one is forgotten" and everyone has the experience. Muir says, "Nature has always something rare to show us, and the danger to life and limb is hardly greater than one would experience crouching deprecatingly beneath a roof," believing it is vital for someone to take the time to explore and appreciate it, even with its most forcible events. I enjoyed the part where he climbed the Douglas Spruce and said, "never did I enjoy so noble an exhilaration of motion." I bet that was one of the most scariest and memorable moments of his lifetime. In "The Water-Ouzel" Muir writes, no bird "has cheered me so much in my lonely wanderings" through their songs. Through his writings, Muir humanizes the creatures and plants he observes. He says, "love for song-birds, with their sweet human voices, appears to be more common and unfailing that love for flowers," believing no garden or forest would be complete without birds. I enjoyed the part where the mountaineer was hunting for food for himself and his cat, Tom, coming across the water-ouzel and was ready to shoot, when the bird sang for him and melted his heart. He said, "Bless your little heart. I can't shoot you, not even for Tom." Muir almost has a friendship with birds, as they circle his head, imagining them saying "Cheer up, old friend, you seem I'm here, and all's well." They are as comforting to him, and he is to them.